Final answer:
Cryptorchidism is accurately described as the condition where one or both of the testicles remain undescended by birth, which can lead to complications such as reduced fertility and increased risk of testicular cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, cryptorchidism is indeed the term used for undescended testicles. During normal fetal development, the testes descend into the scrotum. This descent is crucial for the appropriate environmental conditions necessary for sperm production, which include maintaining a temperature roughly 2°C lower than the body's internal temperature. When one or both of the testes fail to descend by birth, the condition is known as cryptorchidism, and it can lead to reduced fertility due to the higher internal body temperature.
The testes are surrounded by protective layers of connective tissue, such as the tunica albuginea, and are divided into lobules containing the seminiferous tubules, where sperm develop. If cryptorchidism is not corrected, typically through surgical methods, it can increase the risk for complications, including testicular cancer which is most common in males aged 15 to 35.